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Ryan Kirksey's top fantasy baseball closers to stash and waiver wire pickups for Week 18 of 2025. His favorite relief pitchers to add for sneaky waiver wire saves.
The fantasy baseball world was delivered a bombshell on Monday morning when Emmanuel Clase, the dominant closer for the Cleveland Guardians, was put on non-disciplinary paid leave as the league looks into his role in a gambling investigation. This was, and still is, the week that we expect many closers to be dealt before the trade deadline. But the biggest closer news might be the changing of the guard in Cleveland.
This week represents perhaps the busiest of the season regarding closers moving in and out of jobs. Some established closers will be traded, but they will retain their jobs. Others will lose it. Making smart decisions and roster moves before these trades happen can often be the difference between grabbing those few extra saves for the stretch run before anyone else does.
If you are hunting for saves, then consider stashing some top relievers who currently aren't their team's top option in the ninth inning. In this article, I'll provide some of the top player options to stash, which are widely available in Yahoo and Fantrax leagues. To stay up to date with all the latest developments in the world of relief pitching, be sure to check out our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens.
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Fantasy Baseball Closer Handcuffs
In this section, I'll highlight some of the established setup and eighth-inning men who are the clear backup to a firmly entrenched closer on their team. These teams have absolute clarity for now, but each of these pitchers is just an injury or a sudden cold streak away from being promoted to the closer role.
From this group, clearly the one closest to gaining a closer job right now is Cade Smith (although Hunter Gaddis is in the mix as well). With a Ryan Helsley trade looking likely, Phil Maton is also close to gaining the job.
Jason Adam, San Diego Padres (37% rostered)
Robert Suarez and Jason Adam continue to be perhaps the most dominant eighth and ninth-inning tandem in the league this season (although Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu might argue that). The two Padres have combined for 55 saves and holds, and average a 25% strikeout rate. Adam is ready and able if Suarez were to go down for any reason.
Randy Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants (29% rostered)
Despite taking a blown save and a loss on Sunday, Randy Rodriguez has a 1.20 ERA, 13 holds, and a 36% strikeout rate. With Ryan Walker's struggles in the middle of the season, Rodriguez is the clear next man up after Camilo Doval.
Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins (22% rostered)
Jhoan Duran has been the subject of many trade rumors over the last week, which is why we see Griffin Jax's roster percentage creeping up to 25%. Jax strikes out 14 batters per nine innings and has 21 holds this season.
Griffin Jax, Vicious 3227 RPM Sweeper. 😤 pic.twitter.com/UpM1xamwXC
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 26, 2025
Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros (31% rostered)
Abreu has been unhittable this season, with a 1.75 ERA and a 37.6% strikeout rate. The last time Hader wasn't available, Abreu still pitched the eighth while Bryan King got a save, but it was Abreu who faced the heart of the order in the eighth inning that day.
Abner Uribe, Milwaukee Brewers (22% rostered)
Abner Uribe continues to lead all relievers with 27 holds this season. He's done it with a 2.15 ERA and a 29% strikeout rate over more than 50 innings. With a fastball clocked at 99 mph this season, he and Trevor Megill make up a lethal one-two punch late in games.
Luke Weaver, New York Yankees (29% rostered)
Devin Williams has course-corrected after early-season struggles. That leaves Luke Weaver in the eighth inning for now, but we know the Yankees may not offer a long leash. It wouldn't take too much to get Weaver back in the role as the Yankees try to claw their way back into first place in the AL East.
Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians (39% rostered)
If Smith is available in your league, stop reading now and go pick him up. This is the prototypical closer profile, including a 97 mph fastball and a 34% strikeout rate. Clase could be back September 1, but there is a strong possibility he remains sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
Cade Smith entered the game with no outs and the bases loaded.
He struck out the next three batters to escape the jam 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bBQbrZCbGb
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2025
Matt Brash, Seattle Mariners (7% rostered)
After starting the season with an injury, Matt Brash now has 13 holds in 26 innings, plus a 1.06 ERA. Andres Munoz has been phenomenal, but Brash would be a capable stand-in if he is ever needed for the ninth inning this season.
Phil Maton, St. Louis Cardinals (11% rostered)
Read any beat reporter who is plugged into teams during the trade deadline, and they will list incumbent Cardinals' closer Helsley as one of the most likely pitchers to get traded. If he does, Maton and his 2.35 ERA, 20 holds, and 30% strikeout rate are ready to step into the ninth inning.
Reed Garrett, New York Mets (9% rostered)
Edwin Diaz certainly isn't going anywhere, but the Mets are playoff-bound and would want their best man in the ninth inning if something were to happen to the fireballer Diaz. Garrett has three holds in the last week, with 20 on the season, and a 2.79 ERA across more than 42 innings.
Relievers With Closer Potential on Teams With Closer Uncertainty
Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (9% rostered)
The Angels keep hovering around the .500 mark, and it's unclear whether they want to sell off at the trade deadline. Even if they did, Reid Detmers has regressed as the eighth-inning man for Kenley Jansen. After a strong start in the bullpen, Detmers is now up to a 4.00 ERA over 47 innings. As a lefty, that might not be what the Angels want if they need a new closer.
Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox (12% rostered)
Garrett Whitlock is going to be added in a lot of leagues this week after Aroldis Chapman left Sunday's game with back tightness. Whitlock has a strong 31% strikeout rate this season, but five pitchers, apart from Chapman, have a hold in the last week for Boston. Would Whitlock immediately get the ninth if this is a long-term injury for Chapman? It remains to be seen.
Garrett Whitlock in his last 20 outings:
2.08 ERA
1.66 FIP
35.4% K
.137 average against
65.9% (!!!!) ground ball
18/20 scoreless pic.twitter.com/8xLv9xAEan— Jordan Leandre (@JordanLeandre55) July 28, 2025
Isaac Mattson, Pittsburgh Pirates (0% rostered)
The Pirates would probably trade any of David Bednar, Dennis Santana, or Caleb Ferguson at this point. Mattson has a 94 mph fastball and a 27% strikeout rate in 22 innings. Trying to guess the ninth inning in a revamped Pittsburgh bullpen is a fool's errand, but Mattson has the stuff.
Kendall Graveman, Arizona Diamondbacks (0% rostered)
The Arizona bullpen is a mess with Shelby Miller (forearm), A.J. Puk (elbow), and Ryan Thompson (shoulder) all on the IL. Kevin Ginkel has been getting saves lately, but he has a 7.66 ERA, and Arizona is in fire sale mode. Graveman is not much better with a 6.57 ERA this season, but he might be the only option left after this week.
Dylan Lee, Atlanta Braves (7% rostered)
Raisel Iglesias blew another save this week and now has a 5.09 ERA on the season. Whether or not the Braves trade him, Dylan Lee and his 29% strikeout rate and 2.56 ERA might get the job regardless. Pierce Johnson also has similar numbers and is in the mix for saves in the future.
Tyler Holton, Detroit Tigers (13% rostered)
Tommy Kahnle is out of the saves conversation and was overlooked for holds twice in the last week. That leaves Tyler Holton the next man up if anything were to happen to Will Vest. Holton isn't the most dominant strikeout pitcher around, but he gets guys out and gets through innings cleanly.
Caleb Thielbar, Chicago Cubs (2% rostered)
Brad Keller and Ryan Pressly did not factor into the holds for Chicago over the weekend, so it looks like Caleb Thielbar is the setup man for now. Thielbar had back-to-back holds on Saturday and Sunday and now has a 2.06 ERA with a 25.7% strikeout rate.
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